Tony de Zorzi struck a half-century and Andile Phehlukwayo claimed three wickets but it was not enough to prevent South Africa A (SA ‘A’) going down to Sri Lanka A (SL ‘A’) in game one of their one-day series at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Saturday.

The hosts lost by 93 runs despite promising performances by the Proteas pair. All-rounder Phehlukwayo was first to impress after he claimed three for 38 in 10 overs, ripping through the visitors’ middle-order, though they still managed to amass 298 for nine.

In reply, batter De Zorzi recorded an attacking 53 (48 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) as the home side stuttered along and were eventually dismissed for 205 inside 37 overs.

There were starts for several other players too, but spinners Dushan Hemantha (3/34) and Wanuja Sahan (3/41) proved key with their six wickets ensuring SL ‘A’ stormed to a big win.

After winning the toss and bowling first in the North West, the hosts struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batters, who had Kamil Mishara (71 off 75 balls, 9 fours, 1 six), Nuwanidu Fernando (97 off 101 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) and Chamindu Wickramasinghe (55 off 39 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes) to thank for their sizable total.

Barring Phehlukwayo’s excellent spell, which included going for 3.80 runs per over, all the other bowlers conceded more than five to the over that leaving the opposition well-placed at halfway.

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The South Africans then lost key man David Bedingham for 13 early on, before captain Matthew Breetzke (28) helped rebuild alongside De Zorzi.

Dewald Brevis managed 39, and even though there were decent efforts by Meeka-eel Prince (24) and Eathan Bosch (32*), the home side lost wickets too regularly and were bowled out with well over 10 overs to spare.

Match two in the three-match series takes place on Monday at the same venue.

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